Refurbishing aims to bring a product back to good working condition by repairing or replacing parts or making touch-ups where needed. This can be done by the manufacturer or a certified reseller. Therefore, it has an extended warranty and is certified to work by the manufacturer/reseller.
Remanufacturing aims to create an 'as-new' product from an already used one through replacing and reconditioning components when needed; with a warranty to match. Remanufacturing is an often industrialized process which is more extensive than refurbishing.
It is important to differentiate refurbish and remanufacturing from:
- Each other
- Reuse
- Repurposing
Steps
- Establish a reverse logistics map
- Determine the end-of-life scenarios that could lead to refurbishment/remanufacturing
- Engage in a redesign for refurbishment/remanufacturing exercise
Assess first
Environmental burdens from transportation or processing. Closing loops through manufacturing might be interesting when:
- Product material supply is insecure
- Product contains hazardous materials
- Economically more beneficial than starting the product from scratch
Tools
Case studies & examples
